I plan to go backpacking on a beach this summer in the Pacific Northwest. Do you have any recommendations?

A:The rugged, 382-mile Oregon Coast Trail traces Oregon’s entire shoreline, from the Columbia River to the California state line. What sets the 30-mile stretch from Brandon to Port Orford apart is that Highway 101 veers several miles eastward, away from the coast, meaning that crowds stay far from the shore. The surf-pounded path crosses the Elk and Sixes Rivers, rounds the tip of Cape Blanco State Park, and cuts through the Floras Lake Natural Area. Plan on spending about four days on the hike.